St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-03-12

War; her They were the
steam frigates Minnesota and Roanoke, and
the sailing frigates Cumberland and Congress.
The appearance of the Merrimac had come to
be looked on as something of u joke Van
Brunt. captain of the Minnesota, wrote home:
"We are tired of waiting for the Merrimac
and wish she would come out"
He had his wish presently to his hearts
content
Hampton roads is an inlet of Chesapeake
bay, between Fortress Monroe and Norfolk
The James river empties into it, also ths
Elizabeth, on which the navy yard lies. The
bay or indentation gets its name of "roads," +"
OF a roadstead for ships, on account of it's
depth of water, being scarcely anywhere less
than twenty-three feet. 1t is about five miles
across.
The Federal vessels lay about the roads not
very near together
"The Minnesota and the Roanoke were here
near Fortress Monroe, the Cumberland and
Congress were off yonder south, near the
mouth of the Elizabeth river" says the cap
tain.
About noon, Saturday, March s, the Fed
eral lookouts saw something coming down
the Elizabeth river. 1t was, in fact, three
things, as they presently moved nearer. 1t
was three steamers. Two of them were ordi-
nary gunbot1s The other was queer looking
craft, appearing like the roof OF barn steam
ing down stream Was this the Merrimac!
The little fleet came steaming down the river
and out into the roads. Quickly the Mime
sofa and the Roanoke made ready to meet
the newcomers The queer craft was the
Merrimac at last. The Roanoke had broken
shaft She had to be towed out into the
water by tugs
1t does not take long to tell the story Of
what followed The Minnesota grounded
out of range of the Virginia, and could not
be got off It was ebb tide. Presently the
Roanoke grounded at the stern. The United
States navy was not worth much more then
than it is now.
The Congress and Cumberland were an
chored nearest to the coming monitor as she
steamed out of Elizabeth river
There was some exchange of shots as the
Merrimac came booming on. One shot from
her disabled several gunners on the Cumber-
land. The Cumberland was swung broadside
across the channel The Merrimac went at
her straight as all arrow and rammed her
iron beak into the Cumberlands side
torrent into the Cumberland. Then the
Merrimac opened fire. Every shot hit the
mark, and the decks of the wooden ship were
soon covered with dead and injured. In
three-quarters of an hour the mortally burt
ship went down in ffty-four feet of water,
carrying dead. dying and wounded with her.
Some were picked up in boats from the shore
and a few swan to land The Cum
berlands topn,ast showed above wa
ter, with her flag still flying. 1t was
the turn of the Congress next. The
two companion gunboats of the Merrimac
had attacked her. Seeing the fate of the
Cumberland. Lieut.. Pendergast, commander
Of the Congress, ran her aground by means
of tugs, in order to prevent the Merrimac
from sinking her. The Merrimac, after sink
ing the Cumberland began pouring shot into
the Congress. The aim of the Confederates
was maryelously accurate. The firing from
the Congress had no effect ON the Merrimac's
sloping iron sides.
At 4:30 Lieut.. Pendergast, seeing all was
over, hauled down the stars and stripes, and
ran up white flag in token of surrender.
The Confederates sent tug to take formal
possession.
But the Congress was under shelter of the
Union batteries at Newport News, and they
opened fire and drove the tug off. 1t is said
they did not see the white flag Then the
Merrimac poured red hot shot into the poor
old ship again. Presently she left her and
bore down upon the Minnesota.
In this interval, the crew of the Congress,
what there were left of them, escaped to
shore in the boats. Next morning, Of the 434
brave men and true who had composed her
crew, only half answered to their names at
roll call. The rest were killed, wounded and
missing.
There had come into HAMPTON Roads on
Friday. March 6. the naval ship Sc. Law